Late last night the Wisconsin Badgers football team added defensive back Alex Smith. The California product is listed from safety to athlete depending on the website you look to, but will likely play cornerback for the Badgers.
Smith is the first defensive back in the Badgers 2018 recruiting class, bringing the total amount of recruits to 13. Standing at 6’0″and 165 pounds, Smith will have to pack on some weight before making an impact in the defensive backfield.
In high school, Smith did more than just disrupt throws and make impressive tackles. He returned 13 kickoffs for an astounding average of almost 40 yards per attempt and also brought three of those kicks back for touchdowns.
Two things stand out while looking at his game film from high school: Smith has outstanding outstanding closing speed, and his return ability was unfair to opposing teams.
We’ve already talked about the return ability, which the Badgers will surly utilize, but there are multiple times Smith looks to be out of a play, and then out of no where he ends up making the play. Whether it be a run play or a pass down to a receiver just out of his coverage.
Looking again to his return ability, speed is once again a factor. It really looks like he is jogging while everyone else is sprinting.
All in all, the Badgers and Coach Paul Chryst are off to a fast start on the 2018 recruiting class.
Badgers 2018 class
| Name | Position | Ranking (according to 247) | Height | Weight | Hometown |
| Reggie Pearson Jr. | S | 3-star | 5-10 | 180 | River Rouge, MI |
| Boyd Dietzen | DE | 3-star | 6-3 | 235 | Kimberly, WI |
| Trent Ingalls | S | 3-star | 6-1 | 175 | Menasha, WI |
| C.J. Goetz | ILB | 3-star | 6-4 | 225 | Waukesha, WI |
| Mason Platter | OLB | 3-star | 6-5 | 220 | Menomonie, WI |
| Michael Furtney | OL | 3-star | 6-5 | 280 | Milan, MI |
| Jack Sanborn | ILB | 4-star | 6-2 | 210 | Lake Zurich, IL |
| Chase Wolf | QB | 3-star | 6-2 | 195 | Cincinnati, OH |
| Cormac Sampson | TE | NR | 6-5 | 230 | Eau Claire, WI |
| Isaiah Mullens | DE | 3-star | 6-5 | 280 | Columbus, OH |
| Nakia Watson | RB | 3-star | 6-0 | 223 | Austin, TX |
| Jaylan Franklin | TE | 3-star | 6-4 | 192 | Gibraltar, MI |
| Alex Smith | CB/KR | 3-star | 6-0 | 165 | Culver City, CA |